MODERN FIREPLACE - SOLUS DECOR

Custom Concrete fireplace installation by Solus Decor, photography provided by Solus

"Block" Concrete surround display at Solus Decor Studio on 3rd

It feels like just yesterday that I first met Khai Foo and Brad Carpenter at their studio on 3rd off Main street in Vancouver, BC. A modest exterior entrance led to palette of sophisticated and refined concrete finishes. Four years ago, large format tiles had just started to be introduced to the residential market and Solus was already in production with a line of 12" x 24" floor tiles, showcased in their showroom in a perfect shade of charcoal. Examples of elegant fireplace mantels featured a new updated look to traditional crown profiles using simplified and well thought out use of scale and proportions. Also in their showroom - custom door surrounds for a dramatic entryway to a wine cellar. It's inspiring to see that within the last few years, Solus Decor has built a business model based on quality product and a belief in bringing excellent service to a growing market of sophisticated Vancouver buyers, as well international markets. A recent visit to Solus Decor's new location offered a sneak peek at behind the scenes efforts that go into each product from design process to careful production and packaging, Solus Decor is one of my favorite success stories and the best part is they are a great team to work with. To read more and view an inside story on Solus, see our collaborated effort at MODERN 604.COM where we feature all of Vancouver's talent and modern resources.

Concrete tile collection featured at current showroom location at 1445 Powell Street

New "Quadra" profile, a seamless single cast concrete surround that can be floor or wall mounted. I'm excited to see the collaboration between Solus Decor and Inform Interiors showcase this new concrete profile at the new Inform Interiors showroom located in Gastown.

MODERN ARCHITECTURE - WINGARDH ARKITECKT

Architecture & Interiors by: WINGARDH ARKITECKT
Location: Goteborg, Sweden
Specialty: single-family & multi-family residential, public, corporate
Project Highlights: Villa Anne, Villa Nilsson

One of my favorite websites is sellModern which highlights modern residential properties on the market. I often refer to this website to review projects in development and learn about new feature architects. One of the feature architects whose work I have fallen in love with is that of Sweden based firm WINGARDH ARKITECKT. I am inspired by the firm's innovative concrete detailing and their ability to transform residential architecture into a seamless extension of the surrounding landscape. Villa Anne and Villa Nilsson are two perfect examples of the amazing impact that great architecture and interiors have when well designed.

MODERN INTERIOR FINISHES - CONCRETE

Interior concrete floors can can be intimidating for the conservative client. Most don't realize its advantages. Concrete offers design flexibility in addition to being low-maintenance and cost-effective. For those who suspect a concrete finish will feel cold or sterile, consider how it might work nicely in a warm climate. As far as physical warmth in a cooler climate, in-floor radiant heating can be incorporated. From a less tactile perspective, you might also consider tinting the concrete to a lighter or darker hue to suit your aesthetic style. Excellent sealers such as VSEAL are now available and concrete tile options such as eco-cem from coverings COVERINGS provide a great alternative if a poured-in-place polished concrete floor is not feasible. SYNDCRETE is great product that provides limitless applications from tile to integrated countertops and furniture.
"Syndecrete is an advanced cementitious composite using natural minerals and recycled materials as its primary ingredients. There are no resins or polymers. It is a solid surfacing material which provides consistency of color, texture, and aggregate throughout. It is less than half the weight but twice the compressive strength of ordinary concrete. And as an organic handmade building material, imperfections in color, texture, porosity and dimension are all valued aesthetic qualities. "sourced from design guide